A cycle timer isn't the same thing ad a digital timer. Cycle timers don't have a limited number of on/of times. The on/of duration can vary between cycle timers but can range from seconds to hours. You set the duration of the on time, and set the duration for the off time, and the cycle timer cycles on off all day and night. However some cycle timers also have a photo cell that can be used to turn off the cycle timer at night when it gets dark, then come back on again when it starts to get light again.